Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 118

"Little White, shall I go with you to gather herbs later?" Zi Jin said cheekily, leaning on Little White's shoulder.

Xiao Bai picked up the wooden basin and turned to look at Zi Jin: "You're not fully recovered yet, so stay home and wait."

Zi Jin blankly released the silver hair in her hand, a silly smile appearing on her lips: "Home?...Home?...You said this is home."

Xiao Bai glanced at Zi Jin, but smiled without saying a word. She turned and went into the kitchen to put down the bowls and chopsticks.

Zi Jin rushed forward, grabbed Xiao Bai's hand, and led her towards the bedroom: "Come with me, I have something to give you."

Xiao Bai let Zi Jin pull him along, shaking his head helplessly, his gentle, jade-like eyes filled with doting affection.

Zi Jin gently pressed Xiao Bai down onto the chair in front of the bronze mirror and picked up a comb to carefully comb Xiao Bai's silver hair. She tilted her head and whispered in Xiao Bai's ear, "Your hair is so beautiful, softer and smoother than silk, like silver threads. I have never seen such beautiful hair."

Xiao Bai frowned slightly, her long, fan-like eyelashes trembled slightly, a shadow of gloom flashed in her eyes, and her pink lips were tightly pursed in displeasure.

After combing her long hair, Zi Jin clumsily tied it into a simple men's bun, adorning her silver hair with a roughly carved wooden hairpin. Her face was full of smiles: "Does it look good? I carved it myself when you came up the mountain. Although it's just cheap willow wood, it's my token of appreciation, so please accept it."

Xiao Bai turned to straighten the slightly crooked hairpin, a hint of warmth flashing in her eyes: "It's not bad."

Zi Jin reached out and wrapped her arms around Xiao Bai's waist, pressing her face against his back: "We've been cooped up at home for days, how about I come up the mountain with you?"

Xiao Bai looked up at the window and said, "It's probably going to rain today. Let's do it tomorrow."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I'm not afraid of anything if I'm with you." Zi Jin quickly said, sensing that Xiao Bai had softened her stance.

Xiao Bai turned around and smiled gently, her eyes, as warm and gentle as ink jade, brimming with undisguised joy: "Hurry up and get ready."

Inside the Weiyang Palace, Prince Anle sat comfortably in front of the mirror, letting his servant arrange his long hair. The weariness of the past few days was long gone from his brows, and his narrow peach blossom eyes were full of vitality.

"Your Highness, would it be alright to wear the Magnolia and Wealth Hairpin today?" Xiaopu asked softly.

"Use the Tenglong Gold and Jade Hairpin," Prince Anle replied with a smile and his eyes closed.

Xiaopu got up, picked up a sandalwood box, and slowly took out a men's hairpin that was crystal clear, made of jade and gold, and decorated it on the hair of Prince Anle.

King Anle looked in the mirror and smiled with satisfaction. He slowly stood up, and his servant hurriedly knelt down, smoothing out the corners of his clothes and straightening his accessories before he stood up.

Prince Anle was dressed in a brocade white robe with gold thread trim, exquisite jade buttons, and a dazzling jade pendant at his waist. He wore black boots with gold thread trim on the soles, and his hair was styled in a meticulous updo with a priceless dragon hairpin. He was breathtakingly beautiful.

The palace servants slowly opened the palace gates, and there was Jin Yu kneeling alone outside the gate.

"Is everything prepared?" King Anle smiled gently and asked softly.

"Everything is ready, and we can set off at any time," Jin Yu replied, bowing his head.

With a gentle look in her eyes, Prince Anle said softly, "You must keep Dugu Xihui firmly confined in the palace for me, and you must not allow any mishaps."

Jin Yu raised his eyes and said, "A thousand elite soldiers have sealed off the guesthouse firmly, but please rest assured, Your Highness."

Prince Anle played with the long hair at his temples, revealing a captivating smile: "Go and invite Miss Nan here, so we can go together."

Jin Yu accepted the order and left.

King Anle stood still, his narrow peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed, and a cryptic smile appeared on his lips.

Dugu Xihui leaned against the window, gazing at the vast expanse of clouds in the sky, a hint of self-loathing and self-mockery flickering in her amber eyes.

"Your Majesty need not blame yourself too much; this matter is not your fault. That Prince Chen is treacherous and cunning, and he leaves no room for error in his actions. It was inevitable that Your Majesty would fall into his trap." The young man had red lips and white teeth, eyes like deep pools, and eyebrows like swords. He was incomparably handsome, exquisitely refined, yet full of heroic spirit.

Dugu Xihui gave a bitter smile: "If I hadn't been so obsessed back then, I could have kept her. She suffered so much, and I still..."

"Your Majesty, do not regret this. As long as we can find Jin this time, will we be able to make amends in the future?" the young man said with a frown.

Dugu Xihui turned to look at the young man: "This trip to Yue Kingdom was rather rushed. Although I brought Chi Di back, I did not bring back Aunt Qinglin. Chi Di, do not worry. Once I find Jin'er, I will immediately send someone to Yue Kingdom to bring Aunt Qinglin back."

"The king, mindful of our past relationship, brought Jun Chi out. Jun Chi is already deeply grateful and dares not have any more expectations," Jun Chi said softly, bowing his head.

Dugu Xihui stared at Jun Chi thoughtfully for a long time before slowly saying, "Brother Chi, there's no need for such formality. We are family, and the title 'King' is too distant. When Aunt Qinglin got married, I was too young to stop her, which is why you and your son suffered so much. Now that you've returned, if you don't mind my helplessness back then, please call me 'brother'."

"Thank you for not abandoning me, brother. I blame no one," Jun Chi replied, bowing.

Lou Shuo strode in, bowed, and said, "Prince Anle led fifteen riders and a carriage toward the mountain stream north of Tiandu City."

Dugu Xihui pondered for a moment before looking up and saying, "Have the scouts continue to follow them, and order the five hundred guards outside the city to prepare themselves and follow them at a distance, so as not to startle them."

Lou Shuo raised his eyes slightly, frowned and said, "The Guest House is already surrounded by more than a thousand people. It won't be so easy for us to get out now."

Dugu Xihui's lips curled into a faint smile: "From the very beginning of this imperial city, my Dugu family has been the masters of the harem for generations... It is a huge joke for someone to use this capital city to trap my Dugu family."

The Tianshan Mountains are connected, exceptionally beautiful, with wisps of white clouds drifting by from time to time.

Zi Jin lay on the grass, feeling the gentle coolness of the mountain breeze, her eyes fixed on the people digging for medicinal herbs not far away, her face full of rapture.

Xiao Bai placed a few herbs into the basket beside him, turned around and saw Zi Jin lying on the ground, frowning slightly: "The ground is cold."

Zi Jin pouted in dissatisfaction, but her eyes were full of laughter. She sat up and habitually played with the jade pendant at her waist: "This place is really beautiful, but... no matter how beautiful it is, it's not as beautiful as you."

Xiao Bai turned her face away, no longer looking at Zi Jin, a blush creeping up her ears.

Zi Jin walked over timidly and suddenly pounced on Xiao Bai's back: "Ha... I caught you! You're shy, you're shy! Come here and let your older sister see you."

Xiao Bai lowered her eyes, her ears turning even redder: "Don't be silly, the weather is bad. Let me finish picking these few plants and then we should hurry down the mountain."

Zi Jin, unwilling to let go, wrapped her arms around Xiao Bai's neck and whispered in his ear, "So... that's fine too!" Before she could finish speaking, she swiftly kissed Xiao Bai's jade-like cheek, quickly let go, ran away, and laughed mischievously.

Xiao Bai paused for a moment, then lowered her head and focused on digging up the few herbs. Although she seemed indifferent, her face and ears were already flushed.

Feeling bored, Zi Jin quickly climbed onto a large rock on the cliff, her legs dangling in the air.